How to Keep Your Bones Strong and Healthy

Bones create the frame on which your body is built. You also need bones for protection and to carry out even a small task with ease.

Along with providing strength, balance and support for your body, healthy bones support a better posture and make you look and feel more youthful.

As you grow old, you become more vulnerable to weak bones. Even a small fall may break a bone, resulting in pain and loss of independence.

Though you cannot avoid aging, thinning and fragile bones leading to osteoporosis and other conditions may be prevented with some simple lifestyle changes. Your diet, water intake, physical activity, stress level and overall health have a huge impact on your bones.

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To ensure lifelong bone health, you need to protect your bones from an early age.

Beans are also high in calcium. Tofu, chickpeas and other bean products have plenty of calcium and magnesium needed for building strong bones.

Calcium-fortified orange and apple juice contain a good amount of calcium in absorbable form.

Low-fat dairy products like cheese, milk and yogurt are also rich in calcium.

Be aware that certain diet and lifestyle habits can impact how much calcium your body absorbs and maintains in your bones. These are explained in more detail below.

2. Enjoy Early Morning Sunlight

Expose your arms, hands and face to early morning sunlight for about 10 to 15 minutes daily to help your body naturally produce enough vitamin D needed for strong and healthy bones. You can also eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as milk, cereal, orange juice, sardines, shrimp, egg yolks and tuna.

In fact, the body needs vitamin D in order to absorb calcium better.

According to a 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a vitamin D deficiency causes the bone disease osteomalacia, precipitates and exacerbates osteoporosis in adults, and causes rickets in children.

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In addition, a 2011 study published in Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism highlights the consequences of vitamin D deficiency, such as secondary hyperparathyroidism and bone loss, leading to osteoporosis and fractures.

3. Avoid Excess Salt

Salt is known to cause excessive calcium excretion through the kidneys.

A 2013 study by the Endocrine Society states that high salt intake increase a woman’s risk of breaking a bone after menopause, irrespective of bone density.

In an earlier 2008 study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, researchers concluded that salt causes a significant change in bone calcium balance, especially when consumed with a high calcium intake.

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The American Heart Association suggests limiting your daily salt intake to less than 1,500 mg. Instead of using table salt to add flavor to your food, use tasty herbs and spices. In addition, avoid processed foods that are often high in salt.

4. Quit Smoking

Smoking cigarettes can lead to a variety of health problems, include issues with your bones. It prevents the body from efficiently absorbing calcium, thereby decreasing bone mass.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health suggests that smokers with lower bone mass have a higher risk of fractures than non-­smokers, and the risk keeps on increasing with the number of years and cigarettes that a person smokes.

Furthermore, female smokers tend to experience menopause at an earlier age, leading to increased bone loss.

A 2013 study published by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania notes that cigarette smoking is associated with longer healing times and higher rates of wound complications in long-bone fractures.

Another study published in Bone & Joint Research in the same year concludes that smoking has a negative effect on bone healing, in terms of delayed union, nonunion and more complications.

5. Say No to Soda

If you are a soda addict, bear in mind that drinking soda in excess can cause a reduction in bone mineral density and an increased risk of fracture.

When you drink too much soda, it leads to an increase in phosphate levels in the blood. This in turn depletes calcium from your bones and increases calcium excretion in your urine. It even prevents proper absorption of calcium.

A 2006 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes that the caffeine and phosphoric acid in colas may harm the bones.

6. Drink in Moderation

To enjoy good health and maintain strong bones, avoid drinking more than one drink a day if you are a woman, and no more than two a day if you are a man.

7. Drink Less Coffee

The caffeine in coffee can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which contributes to low bone strength.

A 2006 study published in Osteoporosis International found that a daily intake of 4 or more cups of coffee may cause increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, especially in women with low calcium intake.

Moreover, a 2001 study published in the American Society for Clinical Nutrition journal notes that caffeine intake increases the rate of bone loss in elderly women and interacts with vitamin D receptor genotypes.

Do not drink more than 2 cups of coffee a day and avoid excess intake of other kinds of caffeine-laden beverages.

8. Exercise Daily

Regular exercise is always recommended for keeping your body in good shape and reducing your risk of falls. Particularly, weight-bearing exercises should be done on regular basis to maintain and improve bone health.

A 2009 study published in Sports Medicine notes that people suffering from osteoporosis should do weight-bearing exercise and resistance exercise, as tolerated, along with exercise targeted to improve balance, mobility and posture. This will reduce the likelihood of falling and its associated morbidity and mortality.

Exercise will benefit your bones no matter when you start, so start exercising daily.

9. Eat Foods Rich in Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential for collagen formation and normal bone development. As it is an antioxidant, it helps reduce oxidative stress to protect you against inflammation which drives bone resporption contributing to reduced calcium in the bones.

It stimulates the production of bone-building cells, called osteoblasts, and suppresses bone-destroying cells, called osteoclasts.

A 2012 study published in Public Library of Science (PLOS) establishes vitamin C as a skeletal anabolic agent and points out that it prevents hypogonadal bone loss.

Fruits and vegetables like papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, pineapple, oranges, kiwi, cantaloupe and cauliflower are high in vitamin C. You can even take a supplement, after consulting your doctor.

10. Include Protein in Your Diet

Dietary protein works synergistically with calcium to improve calcium retention and bone metabolism.

A 2010 study published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care notes that consuming more protein (including that from meat) than the recommended dietary allowance is beneficial for calcium utilization and bone health, particularly among the elderly.

All the tips mentioned here are strictly informational. This site does not provide medical advice. Consult with your doctor or other health care provider before using any of these tips or treatments. Read more.